I was an overweight kid from elementary through middle school and into part of high school. Like many others between 2017 and 2020, I spent all my free time playing video games. As a young teenager with highly sensitive dopamine receptors, those flashing pixels and complex code encapsulated me. Before I knew it, years had flown by, and the person I once was had vanished. Looking in the mirror, I hardly recognized the reflection staring back, it felt like a stranger.
Fed up with feeling insecure, unhappy, unhealthy, and ashamed of my appearance, I knew I had to make a change. When quarantine restrictions were lifted and gyms reopened, I saw it as my chance to take action. I embarked on a fitness journey, starting humbly with a friend and a dream. My first year at the gym was daunting; I was timid, shy, and socially anxious from the prolonged isolation. I was even nervous about going to the gym alone, fearing judgment and thoughts like, “Ew, look at him trying, does he think he has a chance?”
In my spare time, I found myself glued to transformation videos of fitness influencers. Watching these body transformations gave me hope that, with enough effort, I could achieve a similar look. David Laid and Zyzz, who seemed like modern-day Greek gods were my biggest inspirations. I’ll never forget the first time I watched those transformation videos; they sparked something inside me, a belief that change was possible.
I instantly fell in love with fitness. To me, the gym felt like a nostalgic playground from my childhood. I would spend hours there, losing track of time in the pursuit of my goals. Little did I know at the time, signing up for that gym membership was more than just a new routine, it was the beginning of a life-changing journey that I’m still on today.
